Banking is a risky business. The recent financial crisis of 2007/08 is still fresh in the minds of the Irish public but there is almost three centuries of banking failures in Ireland – some were unfortunate, while others were fraudulent. And like nowadays, some got away with their crimes, while others went bankrupt and some…
Introduction The Sinn Féin Bank, formally the Sinn Féin Co-operative People’s Bank was a co-operative bank in Ireland associated with Sinn Féin movement, which operated from August 1908 to October 1921. The Co-operative Bank was part of Griffith’s plan for national self-sufficiency. It was not a success, though it prepared the way for the later…
Date: 1927 Description: Country: Ireland Category: Irish Free State / Saorstát Éireann Pattern Notes: This is a ‘pattern’ coin entered by the Roman sculptor Publio Morbiducci (1889-1963) for the competition to design Ireland’s new money in 1928. Although unsuccessful, Morbiducci’s designs are considered to be some of the finest in terms of their…
Date: 1927 Description: Country: Ireland Category: Irish Free State / Saorstát Éireann Pattern Notes: This is a ‘pattern’ coin entered by the Roman sculptor Publio Morbiducci (1889-1963) for the competition to design Ireland’s new money in 1928. Although unsuccessful, Morbiducci’s designs are considered to be some of the finest in terms of their classical Italianate…
Date: 1679 Description: Country: Ireland Category: Charles II Token Notes: This token is interesting for a number of reasons: It was issued after the last proclamation of Charles II banning the use of such tokens. Prior to this issue, it was not uncommon for city mayors to issue tokens in their own name, though not…
Date: c. 1185 Country: Ireland Category: Anglo-Norman House of Anjou Angevin Henry II John as Lord of Ireland First Coinage (Profile Issue) Dublin Mint Moneyer: Elis Hammered Further Reading: O’Brien Coin Guide: Why did Henry II not issue coins under his own name for Ireland? O’Brien Rare Coin Review: John, Lord of Ireland, 1179 (First…
Introduction Throughout John’s lordship, he attempted to stabilize the government in Ireland – which was no easy task given the treacherous Irish geo-political situation. England’s claim to Ireland started in 1154 with the Bull Laudabiliter, in which Pope Adrian IV gave a land grant to Henry II of England. The Pope gave Henry II this land…
The other Hiberno-Norse towns in Ireland became urban later than Dublin: a base was established in Limerick in the 830s/840s, the initial Norse settlement seems to have been established in the 920s but … Limerick did not develop into a town until around AD 967. Waterford may have been urban from around AD 980 Cork…
Introduction: When Edward IV died, in 1483, his two surviving sons, Edward and Richard, then aged 12 and 9, were lodged in the Tower of London, under the protection of their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. The eldest boy, Edward, was King Edward V (although he was never crowned) After the legitimacy of his father’s…
Date: c. 1642 Description: Inchiquin Money, First issue, Crown, irregular flan, 29.62g (S 6532; DF 273; KM. 41). Very fine or better for issue Toned Very rare Obverse: irregular flan stamped 19dwt: 8gr within double beaded border (Type 1) Reverse: irregular flan stamped 19dwt: 8gr within double beaded border (Type 1) Country: Ireland…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 